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I. Introduction 1. The history of school uniforms: a. the purpose of a school-uniform policy; b. main aims of the policy; c. price benefits.
II. Implementation of the policy. 1. Clothing is an expression of ones individuality: a. public opinion about clothing; b. individuality, according to John Dewey. 2. Dress codes or uniform policies: a.
difference; b. legislative and gender side of the problem; 3. Different movements for and against school uniforms in the USA: a. 50 s 60 s; b. Clintons endorsement in 1996; c. changes after 1996. 4.
Debates about the introduction of the policy: a. reasons for and against the policy; b. court cases about school uniforms; c. a bona fide religious or philosophical objection to the requirement; d.
documents protecting students and their parents rights. III. Conclusion 1. Principles points of view. 2.
Components of successful programs. 3. School-uniform program is a part of the problem. Abstract Societies reproduce themselves in only two ways, biologically and culturally. Education is the site of cultural reproduction. Thats why education should bear culturally valuable thoughts, feelings, and actions to deserve transmission to the next generation.
From the earliest times clothing has been playing an important role in humans life. It determined ones status, position in society, persons belief and state. Nowadays a lot of discussions have been made about the role of clothes in modern process of education. There are two different points of view for and against the school-uniform policy. Though the both sides agree that the policy influences the behavior of students but they ague if this influence is progressive or negative. From one side it can provide better results in education, from the other side it is an oppression of students right to expression.
The problem is widely discussing by all layers of society and must be decided as soon as possible. Should Public Schools be required to wear uniforms? School uniforms for public schools have a long history; and debates about the necessity of school uniforms are not a new subject. But, mostly, the school uniform was worn by students from parochial and private schools. They say that it helps to provide an atmosphere of uniformity, pride, loyalty, and equality among students. Great Britain is considered to be the birthplace of the school uniform.
First school uniforms were designed with the purpose to reflect this military ethos; because British schools were originally established to educate the children of serving soldiers and sailors or to prepare boys for the armed forces. But nowadays the school uniform is not so popular particularly in state schools because there are new goals of education. Wearing a school uniform has always given an image of professionalism. It was considered to provide a more businesslike approach to learning.
Most of all, it helped to avoid the dilemma of possessing the latest designer fashions. But the most important thing was spoken for the school uniform. It united children, made them a part of a "team." Though they say that the measures erased childrens individuality but it was an attempt to joint everyone on the same level concerning image and dress. There was another important factor for using of school uniforms. It was cost. Fashions have been constantly changing from year to year, and season to season.
Parents had to provide their children with the latest designs because children always want to look like their idols or classmates. But it is well- known that the cost of such things is rather high. School uniforms help the child avoid ridicule, embarrassment, or abuse from others because children have no chance for confrontation over clothing at school. Having examined the positive academic-related results that were reached in the private school sector, it was decided to launch mandatory uniform programs in public schools across the country. The process has been developing for a long time and is developing now; because there are no mutual agreement among students, parents, administrators, and the public. There is a prejudice that dress affects behavior and performance.
There are a lot of sayings such as Clothes make the man, Good clothes open all doors etc. So, it goes without saying, that the manner a person dresses expresses his or her individuality and sometimes can say more about a person than words. John Dewey is considered to be the founder of the progressive education movement. His teachings are based on studying the processes of development of different societies. He is sure that the community needs individuals with the purpose to perform a large range of vital functions. John Dewey proved that every individual has a unique physical and psychological potential.
And the goal of education is to help every individual to develop unique potential; and as a result a person may make a unique contribution to society. According to Dewey's theory, the habit to fix and limit persons individuality stands in a way of true democracy. The tendency was noticed in such countries as Korea, fascist Germany and former Soviet Union. For a long time children at schools have been wearing school uniforms in those countries. And as it is known there were countries with dictatorship and as they say the best way to place people under the command is to deprive them of individuality. So, John Dewey's theory testifies against school uniforms policy because it leads to inhibition of individuality.
It should be pointed that there were two different approaches to clothes at schools. They were dress codes and uniform policies. They are not the same. Dress codes say what must not be worn; while uniform policies state what must be worn. For example, dress cord can prohibit the wearing of tops and jeans that reveal too much skin.
For boys, dress code prohibits pants sagging to reveal underwear, cutoff T-shirts, tight skullcaps, and various techno-toys such as cell phones. While traditional school uniforms consist of blazer, white blouse, plaid skirt for girls and dark slacks, white shirt and school tie for boys. The difference is great, especially, speaking about the legislative side of the problem. There are several examples to it. The courts have traditionally upheld the cases when dress codes prohibited wearing clothing or symbols linked to gangs. But sometimes uniform policies were viewed as violations of students rights.
Thats why recently in a number of districts and schools wearing of uniforms has been changed for dress codes. There are clams that dress codes as usual focus too much on girls fashions. It is because girls fashions change more often than boys. Thats why girls fashions attracted the most attention. The youth fashions change frequently and radically. It provokes a lot of problems with implementing dress codes.
Thats why many schools have to adopt general dress codes. With the purpose to show acceptable and unacceptable student dress as described in the schools dress code in September 2001 at Old Mill Senior High School in Millersville, Maryland the third annual Old Mill Fashion Show was held. It was a great opportunity for administrators as well as for students. Frankly speaking, school-uniform policies are easier to maintain than dress codes because todays uniforms can suit the times; though some propositions about applying more modern styles such as white T-shirts with blue jeans, denim shirts or skirts, and khaki pants with cargo pockets are not uncommon. In the United States the movement for school uniforms started in the 1950 s and 60 s. There was the dictum Dress right, act right.
The aim of the campaigns was to struggle against juvenile delinquency. In the 1950 s, slacks were prohibited by school dress codes as well as blue jeans, motorcycle boots, and black leather jackets for boys; and later, in the 1960 s, the length of girls skirts at schools was limited. But gang activity was growing and in the 1980 s, school officials had to reexamine schools dress codes and worked out policies requiring uniforms. These efforts have taken on a sense of considerable urgency in areas where gang activity threatens the safety of the school environment. Though gang members are known to intimidate others in various ways, their clothes have been a primary form of gang member identification (Lane and others 1996).
Cherry Hill Elementary in Baltimore, Maryland was the first public school that adopted uniforms in 1987. And the first districtwide uniform dress code policy was applied in Long Beach (CA) Unified School District (LBUSD), in 1994. During the late 1980 's the problem of implementing the use of school uniforms into public schools has been discussing by parents, principles and politicians. In the early 1990 s the idea of dress codes and uniforms was examined on official level. There were a lot of discussion about the problem; and in January, 1996, the use of school uniforms was endorsed by President Clinton in his State of the Union Address. The President said, "If it means teenagers will stop killing each other over de-signer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require students to wear school uniforms. " He emphasized, "we must get violence out of our schools, and we must put discipline and learning back in our schools." Later in February, 1996, the National conference of Secondary School Principals voted for school uniforms in public schools.
As a result, A Manual of School Uniforms was created by the Department of Education and distributed among 16, 000 school districts in the United States. A Manual gave advice how to make school uniforms mandatory and gave several samples of programs currently in place. During 1996 public schools in seven states were allowed to implement uniform policies. A lot of local school districts developed their own policies. Several programs were implemented successfully. One of them was the Long Beach, California program.
It began in the fall of 1994, and since that time it have been reviewed and improved. 70, 000 students in kindergarten through eighth grades were required uniforms. In the first year it was noticed a reduction in substance abuse, fewer fights and cases of weapons possession and robbery. The results showed that a successful school uniform policy can have a positive effect on a school system. Most of all, other school systems confirmed changes in statistics.
Though there were other factors that led to those improvements nut it is for sure that enforcement of school uniforms policy played an important role in the process. The results influence the position of other schools and...
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